Alan Turing was more than just a gay victim

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His death was grim, but in the permissive, anarchic atmosphere of Bletchley his genius was allowed to flourish

Had he not poisoned himself at the age of 41, Alan Turing might be 100 years old tomorrow. The grim circumstances of his death — persecuted and prosecuted for homosexuality, chemically castrated and probably hounded to suicide — have become rather better known than the achievements of his short life as a pioneer of computer science and the leading light among the war-winning codebreakers of Bletchley Park.

Turing has had a posthumous prime ministerial apology for the foul way in which he was treated, and a commemorative postage stamp. He may yet be granted a formal pardon for his “crime”. A Hollywood